Diabetic Gastroparesis: Comparison of gastric emptying of patients treated with erythromycin or cisapride

Gastroparesia diabética: Comparación del vaciamiento gástrico de pacientes tratados con eritromicina o cisaprida

In 1958 the term gastroparesis diabeticorum appears to describe the process of atony and alteration of gastric emptying, found in some diabetic patients. The prevalence varies from 10 to 76%, variation caused by the low specificity of the symptoms. A relationship has been found between adequate glycemic control and drug absorption and gastric emptying, which is why treatment is important. This study aims to compare the clinical and paraclinical efficacy between erythromycin and cisapride, used alone in gastroparesis. We took 18 diabetic patients type 1 and 2, with one year of evolution of diabetes, average age of 57.82 years, excluding patients with pathology and drugs that alter gastric emptying. A questionnaire was prepared on results before and after treatment and regarding emptying before and after fifteen days of treatment. The most frequent symptoms were postprandial fullness, weight loss, dyspepsia and abdominal distension. Nine patients received cisapride, eight presented subjective improvement, 55% improved emptying, and one did not change. Ten patients received erythromycin, one diabetic withdrew due to intolerance, seven had subjective improvement and 45% improved emptying; (X2 = 1). There was no significant difference between cisapride and erythromycin in the response of gastric emptying

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